ESPN, MLB ink rights agreement across Europe and Africa
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 12 March 2020

In a major expansion for the sports broadcaster, ESPN and Major League Baseball have extended their partnership with a new rights agreement that will see live MLB action on ESPN’s TV and OTT platforms across multiple markets in Europe and Africa.

The deal maintains live coverage of MLB’s 30 clubs competing for supremacy on Fox Sports in the Netherlands and ESPN’s TV channels in Africa for another two seasons. The extended partnership includes OTT rights across much of Europe and all of sub-Saharan Africa, bringing live MLB to subscription streaming service ESPN Player in 96 countries across the two continents.

ESPN will also cover MLB special events, such as the London Series, which this year sees St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs go head to head in the British capital, as well as the showpiece All-Star game and Home Run Derby. In addition, ESPN Player will carry the 24-hour MLB Network, joining four existing live channels already available on the service; ESPNU, The SEC Network, The ACC Network and The Longhorn Network. ESPN Player subscribers will also be able to watch ESPN’s popular highlights and debate show Baseball Tonight.

ESPN and MLB already collaborate in Europe to show MLB to fans in the UK and Ireland on BT Sport, including the weekly Caps Off show created specifically for British baseball fans.

Commenting on the deal, Frank Rutten, ESPN Europe and Africa, said: “ESPN and MLB have a long and proud history of working together across the globe, and we’re delighted to build the relationship further in Europe and Africa. MLB is at the pinnacle of American sports, and we’re looking forward to bringing millions of fans every home run, shutout and grand slam of what is set to be a thrilling 2020 season.”